Heighty is mighty?

[the phantom]

Hurin wasn't real tall.

[Boromir88]

Oh one more thing that came to me on with Kings and height. I think it's just been naturally thought through history that Kings were not your ordinary person. Kings were meant to be taller, more noble, because at the belief of the time they were chosen by god(s). What's interesting to go along with this is that a King's killer was never mentioned unless if it was by another King. Because of course your ordinary soldier, is lesser than a "chosen leader by god," so literary techniques are used to make the King's death appear accidental, if the King was not killed by another King.

One common one being that he was simply shot by an arrow. (Example Harold 1066 at Senlac Hill). And the other common one being that the King's horse fell on top...rolled over/crushed him, making it appear accidental. So, Theoden's death is actually rather significant:

But Snowmane wild with terror stood up on high, fighting with the air, and then with a great scream he crashed upon his side: a black dark had pierced him. The King fell beneath him...

For Snowmane in his agony had rolled away from him again; yet he was the bane of his master...

Faithful servant yet master's bane,
Lightfoots foal, swift Snowmane...(The Battle of Pelennor Fields)

Hopefully this isn't off track, I'm just trying to show that Kings were held up higher than your normal everyday person. They were meant to be taller and greater, because they were the "chosen." And it was considered rather demeaning if an ordinary soldier kills a King in battle, because of course the only equal to a King is another King. Therefor, a common literary device is if he's not killed by a King then the King's death is written as something accidental..."will of the god(s)" sort of thing.

[narfforc]

The British Royal Family has never been blessed with great height, with the exceptions of Edward I (Longshanks) and Henry VIII, that I know of, certainly for the last couple of centuries, the average has been low, with Victoria being positively tiny, Most of our Prime Ministers have not been that Tall. In fact I cannot think of many political leaders blessed with great height, maybe De Gaulle and Kohl stand out, when you think of the thousands of world leaders there have been, President Bush is quite small, and unfortunately one of the most powerful men on the planet. I honestly do not think that size has anything to do with power, between two of the smallest people in Middle-earth, they destroyed one of the most powerful, something Tall Kings could not do, size is a mere perception.

[symestreem]

Originally Posted by narfforc

President Bush is quite small, and unfortunately one of the most powerful men on the planet.

He's 5'11"... I'd hate to see what you think of my height!

Also, here's an interesting article I found when searching for the President's height.

Getting back to the original topic, it's possible that Tolkien did this deliberately, but a lot of the examples listed by Thinlomien are merely logical.

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

We have Faramir, who is said to be taller than his companions.

In ROTK, I believe, it said that the blood of Numenor ran "nearly true" in Faramir, whereas his companions would have been of lesser lineage. Thus it makes sense that he would have been taller. In the same way, Aragorn is logically taller than Boromir because he is of the Dunedain and part-elven.

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

We have Éomer, who is the tallest of his éored.

Eomer was also of Gondorian descent, through his grandmother Morwen Steelsheen.

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

We have Galadriel, the most powerful elf in Middle-Earth, who is very tall for a woman.

Wasn't this description given in FOTR, which was ultimately recorded by Frodo? She is tall for a woman, but not necessarily for an elf. It makes sense for an elven woman to be taller than a mortal one.

The other examples may be chance, or Tolkien might be trying to make a point... but in his stories, might doesn't equal right. It's not a clear parallel of the Stone Age days when the tallest, strongest man often led the tribe. Purity of heart and courage count for much more than height-- as other posters have already pointed out, two of the shortest people in Middle-earth had more of these qualities than some of the tallest men.

My theory is that by making people tall Tolkien was trying to emphasize their noble heritage, in the case of the men, and in the elves, indicate that the blood of their parents ran true in them, and that they had received their favorable traits.

[Raynor]

I would say that the 'blue print' is found in the valar. In the Annals of Aman, it is stated that "after the coming of the Eldar they (the valar) most often used shapes of 'human' form, though taller (not gigantic) and more magnificent". In letter #246, Tolkien states about Sauron: "the form that he took was that of a man of more than human stature, but not gigantic".

[narfforc]

If George W Bush is 5' 11'' then I stand corrected, it is that he looks shorter, and I think maybe he is surrounded by bigger people. Having stood quite close to him I would have bet my life he was'nt that Tall, maybe for the reason we are talking about, his aids wish him to be more than what he is, and have added somewhat to his dimensions, but then I may be wrong. How tall is Laura then?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Let's stay away from current politics and stick to Middle-earth, please...

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Of course not all the important characters can be really tall, but this is just a splash of realism on Tolkien's part. He wanted most of his leaders to stand out and inspire awe in his followers. What simpler way to inspire awe than in being visually outstanding? It's the same with beauty.

Concerning Hobbits: Yes they saved the world, but they didn't lead the world. They were jokes, cause for laughter, among the Men of Middle-earth until their ignorance was demonstrated. So the default position is shown to be disrespect. The Hobbits had to save the lives of the tall folk in order for their worth to be obvious (to those tall folk). Think of Pippin at Minas Tirith: the very notion that this tiny little guy could help our city!

Generally, heighty is seen to be mighty. (Love the thread title, by the way. )

[Anguirel]

But phantom's point on Hurin-specifically described as shorter than most men of his House-is interesting. Also Beren is not described as tall, and indeed I read an interesting essay arguing that he too was short(er), evidence including the fact that Curufin shot at Luthien and Beren jumped yet landed the arrow in his upper torso...it also fits with Beren's slinking outlawry approach.

And then there are the Druedain. And of course the Naugrim. Both races of doughty warriors...

Yeah, alright, but the general principle still holds...

I find Boromir's discussion of "evil"height interesting; but evil also works by the slinking malformed Wormtongue/Gollum approach...

[Bêthberry]

Well, isn't it obvious that fantasy is full of tall tales?

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by narfforc

The British Royal Family has never been blessed with great height, with the exceptions of Edward I (Longshanks) and Henry VIII, that I know of, certainly for the last couple of centuries, the average has been low, with Victoria being positively tiny,

I thought 'enery the heighth ended up being wider than he was tall?

I seem to recall a gossip rag reporting that Prince Phillip was initially pleased to have Diana Spencer brought into the gene pool. I believe he was quoted as saying something to the effect as, "she will breed some height into us."

But as for Tolkien's high ground: Now, the dwarves we know are shorter than the elves, but probably taller than the hobbits. Is this middle ground--neither at sixes nor at sevens--why they don't get much (comparatively) respect? What is said about their kings? Are dwarven kings taller than the average dwarf? To be consistent, wouldn't Tolkien want to make his dwarven kings taller than their subjects?

Was Lear's Fool shorter than Lear or taller?

And who was taller, Gandalf or Saruman?

[Lush]

Well, certain studies (not sure how scientific said studies actually are) do say that taller people get more promotions...

Having said that, it's interesting to think of the Hobbits in this context. Certainly, looks can be deceiving.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Lush

Having said that, it's interesting to think of the Hobbits in this context. Certainly, looks can be deceiving.

Thought that that was the whole point. "Hey, the small guys saved the day. Were they wearing stilts or something?"

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

And who was taller, Gandalf or Saruman?

Without one doubt: Gandalf. Evil makes you stoop, slouch, and overall lower your stature - why else are they called the Fallen? Hell, Angband, Melkor and Moria are in the ground, whereas heaven, Manwe and Elbereth reside in more elevated locations. Gandalf, staying true to the dictates of Eru, therefore would be taller.

What this says about Dwarves and Hobbits...

And methinks that the reason elves do not sink in snow is due to their need to appear taller - 'in control,' important, leading the way.

[davem]

Of course

Húrin was by three years the elder, but he was shorter in stature than other men of his kin

Shorter than Turin, btw....

But who was the greater hero?

[The Might]

In my opinion, it's also a great advantage in some cases.
Take Bandobras Took for example, he was the tallest Hobbit (until Merry and Pippin decided to take a detour through Fangorn), and he was able to ride. I'm sure that fact that he was capable of riding helped a lot in the Battle of Greenfields.

And actually, I'm the one that's mighty.